USS Ross (DDG-71)
_(2).jpg) USS Ross in 2005 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | USS Ross |
| Namesake: | Captain Donald K. Ross |
| Ordered: | 8 April 1992 |
| Builder: | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 10 April 1995 |
| Launched: | 22 March 1996 |
| Commissioned: | 28 June 1997 |
| Homeport: | Rota, Spain |
| Motto: | Fortune Favors Valor |
| Nickname(s): | "Quad Cruiser" |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2016 |
| Badge: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 505 ft (154 m) |
| Beam: | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Draft: | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower (75 MW) |
| Speed: | >30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Range: |
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| Complement: | |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 1 Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopter can be embarked |
USS Ross (DDG-71) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship of that name, and the first named in honor of Captain Donald K. Ross (1910–1992), who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Ross's keel was laid on 10 April 1995 by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi and her christening was held a year later, sponsored by Helen Ross, widow of Capt. Ross. Her plankowning crew moved aboard in April 1997 and sailed her to Galveston, Texas for the commissioning on 28 June 1997.
She is currently part of Carrier Strike Group Two.
1990s
After commissioning, Ross set sail for a Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial, which lasted six weeks, and then sailed back to Pascagoula for three months for her Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). She was then returned to her homeport of Portsmouth, Virginia and completed the Basic Training Phase: Engineering Certification, CART II, TSTA I, and III, Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification, Final Evaluation Period (FEP), and Logistics Management Assessment.
Ross completed her Intermediate Training Phase and set sail early in 1999 as part of Carrier Group 8, led by USS Theodore Roosevelt. The group sortied for a Joint Task Force Exercise to prepare for an upcoming six-month deployment set to commence on 26 March 1999. During this deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Adriatic Sea Ross participated in Operation Allied Force. On 22 September she returned to Naval Station Norfolk.
2000s
On 15 May 2000 she set sail for Northern Europe in order to participate in the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2000. She served as the flagship for the Commander of Carrier Group Eight, and together with the destroyer USS Peterson operated with more than 50 ships from the numerous European countries. During these exercises Ross visited Stockholm, Sweden and Kiel, Germany before returning to the United States in late June.
On 16 October 2001, Ross was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and conducting operations in support of the U.N. resolutions against Iraq. During this deployment, Ross was again part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group.
On 6 June 2005, a .50 caliber machine gun on her deck fired while leaving a shipyard. The single .50 caliber bullet struck a nearby barge and two washing machines within the barge. The gun was discharged while performing a check on its firing operation.[1]
Later in 2005, Ross participated in UNITAS 47-06 in place of the cruiser USS Thomas S. Gates due to the damage to Pascagoula created by Hurricane Katrina. Ross enjoyed liberty in Curaçao, St. Maarten, and Rio de Janeiro while participating in the multi-ship exercise with naval forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay. During the return home, Ross encountered heavy seas at high speeds resulting in a tear in her hull. The crew isolated her flooding and performed de-watering during the remainder of the journey up the Atlantic coast eventually arriving in Norfolk in time for Thanksgiving.
In 2006, Ross returned from a six month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. She conducted over 850 vessel queries, commanded over 17 different ships from various nations, performed over 40 helicopter landings and takeoffs and 41 port visits to six different countries and 14 different ports. From 1 May 2006 to 7 November 2006, Ross traveled over 64,000 nautical miles (119,000 km; 74,000 mi). In Alicante, Spain in August 2006, Ross became the group flagship, embarking the American commander of the standing maritime group. Her mission was to perform as part of Operation Active Endeavour; deterring terrorism, smuggling and human trafficking in the Mediterranean.
2010s
In September 2014, responding to turmoil in Ukraine, the U.S. Navy announced that a guided missile destroyer had entered the Black Sea in order to participate with Ukrainian ships in the naval exercise "Sea Breeze". USS Ross "serves to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to strengthening the collective security of NATO allies and partners in the region," the Navy said in a press release.[2]
In November 2014, three sailors from USS Ross were attacked while ashore in the port of Istanbul, apparently by members of the Turkey Youth Union.[3]
In May 2015, Ross was buzzed by a pair of Russian Su-24 Fencers at a distance of 500 meters while the ship was on-station in the Black Sea.[4] Russian Federation State media RIA Novosti quoted a military source, which claimed that USS Ross had acted aggressively and was scared away by the bombers. The US Navy published a statement, denying the Russian claims and pointing out that the ship was in international waters and did not deviate from its operations.[5]
On 21 October 2015, Ross intercepted a Terrier missile as part of ASD-15 anti-ballistic missile testing in the North Sea.[6]
Upgrade
On 12 November 2009, the Missile Defense Agency announced that Ross would be upgraded during Fiscal Year 2012 to RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) capability in order to function as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.[7]
References
- ↑
- ↑ "USS Ross to Enter Black Sea Story Number: NNS140903-10". Navy News Service. 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "US Sailors Victims of Videotaped Attack in Istanbul". ABC News. 12 November 2014.
- ↑ Shinkman, Paul D. (2015-06-01). "More ‘Top Gun’: Russian Jets Buzz U.S. Navy Destroyer in Black Sea". US News & World Report. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
- ↑ Withnall, Adam (2015-06-02). "US Navy releases video showing dramatic close pass by Russian warplane in Black Sea". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- ↑ http://www.spacewar.com/reports/USS_Ross_intercepts_ballistic_missile_during_coalition_test_999.html
- ↑ "MDA announces next 6 BMD ships", Navy Times, 12 November 2009.
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
External links
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